ACADEMIC DEAN INSTRUCTION 1531.56U
United States Naval Academy
Plebe Advising Handbook
2015-2016
14 July 2015
14 July 2015
ADVISING RESOURCES
There are many USNA publications that will assist the Plebe Adviser. It is important to keep current issues of the following resources readily available in order to provide the most accurate advising.
TITLE SOURCE
Administration of Academic Programs Academic Dean's Office,
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
(3-1581)
The Majors Program Director of Academic Advising
(3-1595)
Plebe Academic Handbook Deputy Director of Academic Advising
(3-1594)
Strategies for Academic Success Center for Academic Excellence
(3-2934)
U. S. Naval Academy Viewbook Dean of Admissions
http://www.usna.edu/Viewbook/ (3-4361)
14 July 2015
MESSAGE FROM THE ACADEMIC DEAN AND PROVOST
I would like to convey my gratitude to all of you who serve as plebe advisers. The importance of academic advising cannot be overstated.
One of the most worthwhile activities for a faculty member at the Naval Academy is plebe advising. Good advising pays high dividends, and when that advising begins during the fourth class year, the dividends are even richer. Informed plebes can make better decisions about the choice of an academic major, the choice of particular courses or course sequences, and special opportunities such as placement in honors sections.
Equally important is the mentoring relationship that can be established with midshipmen. Many of us can attest to the positive impact of an effective and caring adviser from our own undergraduate years. It is my hope that our midshipmen have the opportunity to establish that kind of relationship with faculty advisers. The foundation for these relationships must be established early in the academic careers of all midshipmen.
Thank you very much for your service and support as you contribute to our plebe advising efforts.
JENNIFER K. WATERS
By direction
ACDEANINST 1531.56U
2/ADAA
14 July 2015
ACADEMIC DEAN AND PROVOST INSTRUCTION 1531.56U
From: Academic Dean and Provost
Subj: PLEBE ADVISING HANDBOOK 2015 - 2016
1. Purpose. To provide information and guidance to plebe academic advisers.
2. Cancellation. ACDEANINST 1531.56T, Plebe Advising Handbook 2014 - 2015 of 11 July 2014.
3. Information. The plebe academic advising program exists to help fourth class midshipmen adjust to the academic program at the Naval Academy and to choose suitable majors. This instruction contains information that will assist plebe academic advisers.
4. Action. The Deputy Director for Academic Advising is responsible for the organization and conduct of the plebe advising program. Questions about this program should be addressed to the Director. Plebe academic advisers are responsible for providing accurate and timely advice to plebes on matters concerning academic assistance for course work, pre-registration, registration for plebe year courses, and the selection of majors. They should make every effort to be academic mentors to their advisees. Plebe academic advisers will use this instruction for guidance and consult the primary references listed herein as necessary. Plebe advisers must keep in mind that academic policies and procedures might change during the year and that they must stay abreast of changes that are reflected in other instructions.
ANDREW T. PHILLIPS
Distribution:
Plebe Academic Advisers
ACDEANINST 1531.56T
14 July 2015
Table of Contents
Advising Resources Inside Front Cover
Plebe Academic Advising 2
Role of the Plebe Adviser 2
Responsibilities of Plebe Adviser 3
Responsibilities of the Plebe 4
Academic Board 4
Academic Probation 5
Academic Majors 5
Academic Organization 6
Calendar of Important Dates for Plebe Advising 7
Center for Academic Excellence 9
Communication with Plebes and their Chain of Command 11
Curriculum Requirements 12
Email 12
Exams, Placement and Validation 12
Extra Instruction (EI) 13
Honors Lists 13
Major Selection 14
Matrix, Typical Plebe Year 15
Minor, Language 16
Midshipmen Information System (MIDS) 17
Plebe Year Activities 19
Plebe Summer 19
Academic Year 19
Daily Schedule 20
Intramural Period 21
Professional and Military Duties 21
Study Period 21
Preregistration 22
Privacy of Midshipman Records 23
Registration 23
Repeating Courses 24
Senior Academic Advisers 24
Special Plebe Adviser 24
Study Skills 24
Summer School 25
Varsity Athletes 25
Writing Center 25
Academic Contacts 26
PLEBE ACADEMIC ADVISING
At colleges and universities across the country, the value of academic advising has become increasingly apparent and gained greater recognition. Exceptional advising during the first year contributes significantly to student retention and subsequently to degree completion. Volunteer faculty advisers are assigned to each company during plebe summer and continue to work with their advisees in that company until they declare a major in the spring.
Each plebe adviser at the Naval Academy should be aware of and carry out the responsibilities listed on the following pages. Plebe advising supports the mission of the Naval Academy.
USNA Mission Statement
To develop midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
Attributes of a Naval Academy Graduate
We graduate midshipmen who are warriors ready to meet the demands of a country at war or at peace. Our graduates are:
· Selfless – Selfless leaders who value diversity and create an ethical command climate through their example of personal integrity and moral courage.
· Inspirational – Mentally resilient and physically fit officers who inspire their team to accomplish the most challenging missions and are prepared to lead in combat.
· Proficient – Technically and academically proficient professionals with a commitment to continual learning.
· Innovative – Critical thinkers and creative decision makers with a bias for action.
· Articulate – Effective communicators.
· Adaptable – Adaptable individuals who understand and appreciate global and cross-cultural dynamics.
· Professional – Role models dedicated to the profession of arms, the traditions and values of the Naval Service and the constitutional foundation of the United States.
ROLE OF THE PLEBE ADVISER
There are significant differences between advising plebes and advising upper class midshipmen (1/C, 2/C, and 3/C) who are committed to specific academic majors. Plebes, even the best students, must adjust from the less rigorous demands of high school to the pressure of the Naval Academy's program. Plebe advisers can offer valuable advice regarding how their advisees can make this transition.
A major attraction of the Naval Academy for most applicants is the Academy's superb curriculum and the opportunities it provides for individual intellectual growth. Yet advising during the year can be critical to a midshipman’s success at the Naval Academy. A plebe adviser should serve as a valuable resource about the Naval Academy's academic programs to fourth-class midshipmen.
The role of the plebe academic adviser is more than consultative in nature. It is the plebe adviser's responsibility to guide and direct, as well as offer advice.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLEBE ADVISER
A plebe adviser is expected to:
1. Provide plebes with sound academic advice.
2. Assist plebes in a thoughtful approach to the choice of a major.
3. Emphasize the plebe's responsibility for satisfying degree requirements and encourage midshipmen to be actively involved in planning their own education.
4. Be familiar with published academic rules and regulations of the Academy and maintain an up-to-date academic advising reference file.
5. Establish adequate availability throughout each semester and meet with each advisee as follows.
a. In late August or early September assess the start of the student’s academic program, plan ahead, and provide advice about pre-registration and begin discussion about major selection.
b. After 12 week grades and, if necessary after six week grades discuss ramifications of academic performance and offer guidance as appropriate including a further discussion about major selection.
c. In early January after plebes input their preliminary selections of majors discuss those preferences in light of the plebes’ original desires and academic performance to date.
d. During the period 24 February – 10 March, advisers should have final discussion about advisees’ choices of major.
6. Discuss with plebes their academic performance and the implications of that performance.
7. Establish a working relationship with advisees' company officers, senior enlisted leaders and the midshipman 1/C academic officers.
8. Refer plebes to appropriate sources of information and service.
9. Encourage plebes to seek Extra Instruction (EI) as early and as often as needed.
10. Encourage plebes to view their education as valuable to their future success as officers.
11. Instill in plebes a desire to be lifetime learners.
12. Help the plebes understand that civilian and military faculty deserve the same respect as do the Bancroft Hall leaders. Midshipmen should address the faculty appropriately, respond to emails, adhere to deadlines and respond to instructions in a timely manner.
13. Provide general guidance on study skills necessary for success in college.
14. Reinforce the importance of the plebes' development of honor, integrity and the sense of mutual respect.
15. Consult with the Deputy Director of Academic Advising, the plebe advisers for High Validators, or with the department/division senior academic advisers concerning difficult advising issues.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PLEBE
Each fourth-class midshipman is expected to:
1. Be aware that the responsibility for meeting major and degree requirements is the midshipman's. The adviser can suggest, recommend, and remind the midshipman of rules and requirements, but the advisee has the primary responsibility for meeting these requirements. Midshipmen must be actively involved in planning their own education.
2. Inform the adviser of important changes which directly affect academic performance.
3. Consult with the academic adviser at least once before the pre-registration process during the fall semester, and whenever the adviser requests a meeting.
4. Be familiar with the published academic rules and regulations of the Academy.
5. Discuss with the academic adviser unsatisfactory academic performance and its implications and develop a plan for improvement.
ACADEMIC BOARD
January Academic Board
The records of plebes who fail more than one course, fail a remedial course or earn a semester QPR (SQPR) below 1.5 are considered deficient and will be reviewed by the Academic Dean & Provost and Commandant and may be presented to the January Academic Board. Plebes who are retained by the Academic Board or have a low QPR must be seen by the Academic Review Council (ARC), which is composed of the Vice Academic Dean, the Deputy Commandant and the Deputy Director of Academic Advising. Plebe advisers do not normally participate in the Academic Board or ARC process; however, an adviser may provide an input to the board by submitting a Special Midshipman Academic Performance Report (MAPR) module in MIDS.
May Academic Board
Plebes who have a semester QPR below 1.5, or a second SQPR below 2.0, or who fail a third course or two courses in the spring semester are academically deficient and are subject to review by the Academic Board. Plebe advisers are welcome to submit Special MAPRS for their former advisees to the Academic Board at the end of the spring semester.
ACADEMIC PROBATION
A plebe is placed on academic probation after the fall semester if he or she was academically deficient but retained by the Academic Board or if his or her fall semester QPR was below 2.00. USNAINST 5420.24G defines what constitutes academic deficiencies.
ACADEMIC MAJORS
All midshipmen must complete one of the majors’ course matrices. A Bachelor of Science is awarded upon completion of all graduation requirements both academic and non-academic. If, in addition, the midshipman earns a CQPR of at least 2.0 in the major, the degree will be designated with the name of the major. Majors with honors tracks are designated with the letter (H) at the end of the major code. An asterisk identifies STEM majors.
Division I Majors Major Codes
*Aerospace Engineering / EAS, EASA*Computer Engineering / ECE
*Electrical Engineering / EEE
*General Engineering / EGE
*Mechanical Engineering / EME
*Naval Architecture / ENA, ENAH
*Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering / ENM, ENMH
*Nuclear Engineering / ENR
*Ocean Engineering / EOE, EOEH
*Systems Engineering / ESE, ESEH
Division II Majors / Major Codes
*Chemistry / SCH, SCB
*Computer Science / SCS
*Cyber Operations / SCY
*General Science / SGS
*Information Technology / SIT
*Mathematics / SMA, SMP, SMAH, SMPH
*Oceanography
*Operations Research / SOC, SOCH
SMO
*Physics / SPH, SPA, SPAA
Division III Majors / Major Codes
Arabic / FLA
Chinese / FLC
Economics / FEQ, FEQH
English / HEG, HEGH
History / HHS, HHSH
Political Science / FPS, FPSA, FPSC, FPSH, FPSI
* Midshipmen can minor in one of seven different languages. See page 16 for details.
ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION
Responsibility for directing the Naval Academy is vested in the Superintendent. The Superintendent is assisted by the Commandant of Midshipmen, who is responsible for directing the military and physical training and the administration of the Brigade of Midshipmen, and the Academic Dean and Provost, who as the chief academic officer is responsible for the entire academic program. The divisions and their respective departments are listed below.
Division of Engineering and Weapons Phone Building Room #
Aerospace Engineering (3-6400) Rickover 327
Electrical Engineering (3-6150) Maury 327
Mechanical Engineering (3-6500) Rickover 363
Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering (3-6420) Rickover 342
Weapons and Systems Engineering (3-6101) Maury 301
Division of Mathematics and Science
Chemistry (3-6600) Michelson 280
Computer Science (3-6800) Michelson 346
Cyber Science (3-0930) Leahy 303
Mathematics (3-6701) Chauvenet 300
Oceanography (3-6550) Chauvenet 200
Physics (3-6650) Chauvenet 266
Division of Humanities and Social Sciences
Economics (3-6880) Nimitz 084
English (3-6200) Sampson 224
History (3-6250) Sampson 325
Languages and Cultures (3-6350) Nimitz 064
Political Science (3-6850) Nimitz 037A
Division of Professional Development Phone Building Room #
Seamanship and Navigation (3-6096) Luce 328
Career Information & Officer Accessions (3-6591) Luce 124
Waterfront Readiness (3-9009) NAVSTA 66